Ex-Sime Darby Manager Accused, Calls For His Investigation

The former General Manager for Sime Darby Plantation Liberia, David Parker has been accused of undermining investment in Liberia by trying to encourage strike action at the plantation. Parker was dismissed recently by the company for non-performance and other reasons.

The accusation was made on Tuesday on a local radio talk show Red Power by a civil right activist Charles Brown.

Brown is a citizen of Bomi County, one of the counties SDPL is investing in currently.

Brown has been critical of Sime Darby over the past years and was accused of attacking some workers at the plantation for been unprofessional.

But in recent times, he said, the company has taken a new trend and was improving the living condition of the employees and it was important for the investment to be protected.

“Parker is still influencing people around the company to stage demonstrations against the company. The National Security Agency (NSA) should invite David Parker,” Browne said on the radio Talk show.

He said the George Weah led government is desperate to attract investment in the country and no one should try to undermine it directly or indirectly. Brown once contested to be representative for the county, Bomi.

“The Liberian Government through the security agencies should invite David Parker to explain what he is doing in Liberia since he was dismissed by the company. He needs to explain details of his operations in the country.

Brown is on record for calling on citizens from the county to remove Parker due to what he called unprofessional management of SDPL at the time. The lawmakers later called Parker for questioning when an alleged torture video emerged.

Some callers on the radio show also buttressed Brown’s call that it was important for Parker to be questioned about such allegation.

Brown accused Parker of working with some citizens from the county, especially the project Affected Communities(PAC) to carry out demonstration.

He said he was not against Parker as a citizen, but on his alleged role in trying to carry out instabilities at the plantation.

Browne admitted that all was not rosy at SDPL. There was room for discussions should there be any misunderstanding.

He added that strike action was not the way out, but peaceful settlement was key in everything. And at such, he called on the citizens to remain law abiding as they have been so nothing wring will occur in the county.

Some of the callers also said it was important for Parker to be invited by the state so he can explain such huge allegation. Others called on Parker to speak out so as to clear his name.

At the same time, some callers have urged their citizens not to allowed themselves to be used.

Parker was called several times to comment on the allegation but his two numbers he once gave to this paper rang with no answer.

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Joel Cholo Brooks is a Liberian journalist who previously worked for several international news outlets including the BBC African Service. He is the CEO of the Global News Network which publishes two local weeklies, The Star and The GNN-Liberia Newspapers. He is a member of the Press Union Of Liberia (PUL) since 1986, and several other international organizations of journalists, and is currently contributing to the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation as Liberia Correspondent.